A "Tablelift"

This is what my dining area used  to look like with a four legged table and black leather dining chairs. A more  rustic-industrial look that I had brought with me from my loft.  They were perfect for that space, but I felt that they were just a bit 'heavy' and 'clunky' for the "cottage".


I showed you the table below in one of my earlier posts. Solid oak, in really great shape and the perfect size (it has a leaf so I can expand it for when the guests start arriving!)

I also really like that it had a pedestal base which allows me to pull the chair right up under it because when you live in 800 sq ft, every inch counts!



As much as I liked the table, I really was not a fan of the oak colour....so, a "tablelift" would be in order!

I got it home and into my basement workshop....then the fun began!

But ...before I could get started, I wanted to be sure I had the proper 'tools' for the end product I wanted to achieve. I purchased a set of good brushes from Home Depot and the paint I decided to go with was from Rona's ECO Recycled Latex Paint, Velvet Finish in the Colour Ocean.

I started with a rough sand to help the first coat adhere, wiped it down with a damp cloth and then began the first coat of paint. The final look I wanted to achieve was a more rustic, imperfect finish, so if you could see the odd brush stroke here and there, that was perfect!


This is part way through the first coat..... (please excuse the mess that the workshop is currently)


Then....after a second coat and bringing the table back upstairs, here is the final product........


Even Charlie was happy with the final product (he gets himself into so many photos)...


The wool table runner is also from the same vendor at the Hanover Market. The peacock feathers in the rustic vase tied the blues in the table to the brown hardwood and the green glass in the room.


Here's a better view of the colour and the wool table runner.....


I'm a big fan of keeping my space fresh and changing out items to add variety, different textures, lines and colours. I sold my old dining table and chairs and with the great deals I was able to get for this table and new-to-me harp back chairs (you'll see more of them in future posts, but here's a sneak peak of their 'before'), changing the entire look and feel of my dining area was no extra $ out of pocket whatsoever.

If you're willing to put in a bit of time and effort, you can change the entire look and feel of your home for practically nothing but a little bit of 'elbow grease'.

RR


Some of my favorite ladies!

Some of these gals I know personally....and some I know via their Blogs, Instagram, Facebook etc...But... from our interactions and discussions, I feel like I know them personally and they are my long lost internet soulmates!
 
Steph is a good friend of mine from London. We're both Kinesiologists and work in the Rehab/Disability Management field full time, but we also have our 'part time' passions. Steph makes gorgeous cards, invitations and other paper products via her Etsy shop, A Paper Buffet. She has also recently opened a second Etsy store called, Knitley Road, where she offers her amazing felted wool and knitted products (I have the iPhone cozy and LOVE it!). Steph is also a very talented photographer and my avatar on Insta, Twitter and FB is a pic she took of me a few summers ago :)

Live Love and Laugh Happy Birthday Greeting Card

Felted cell phone cozy in brown and teal , smartphone case fits iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones


Lovely and Chic
When I moved into my new home just over a year ago, not only was I lucky enough to find a house I love but I also soon found out what a wonderful neighbourhood I had become a part of and Michele and her hubby are the best neighbours/friends a gal could ever ask for! Michele owns an incredible boutique in downtown Guelph called Blush and has a very loyal and devoted following of fashion conscious and stylish patrons! Everytime I walk into her shop, or even pull into my driveway (she has a shop-on-wheels called BOW that is every gals dream of a shoping experience!)...Michele's fantastic sense of style and grace are ever present!

Style 8




Design the Life You Want to Live
I would have to say that Lynne is my long lost internet soulmate! She and I have never met (we will someday soon), but her sense of humour, her outlook on life and her supportive nature remind me a lot of myself.....as well as our like/love of G&Ts!
The other interesting tidbit about Lynne is that she lives about 45 minutes from my parents on an absolutely spectacular piece of property with a gorgeous home/pool and very, very cool treehouse! Her wonderful home and grounds were recently published in "Our Homes" magazine...definitely have a look!

In ground Pool built in an old barn stone foundation


Tree fort living


Heritage Row Reno
A&J are renovating a 1890s row house in St. John's and her pictures/blog make me want to pick up and move out there...or at least find a vacation getaway like theirs anyways! We have never met, but she won my 'Backyard Contest' this summer and through our interactions, her photos, her blog etc, I think that if we lived down the street from eachother, we'd be fast friends! We have a similar style, enjoy the same things like escaping to the water (in her case, she gets to go to the ocean to her cottage), the outdoors, DIYing....and...they have a Choc Lab!!!





Here are a few more ladies and their Blog's that I read/follow and offer me never ending inspiration:

Sashay - Meredith Heron
Made By Girl - Jen Ramos

Thanks again to these ladies for being part of my life in their own unique ways!

RR